Electric rat-trap.



W. S. MOOK.

ELECTRIC RAT TRAP.

APPLIGATlON FILED APR. 16, 1912. 1 Q45 58%, I Patented Nov. 26, 1912. 9 9 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

'7 34 20 VITNES'E'ES 5 MKS/1400?? 5 ATTORNEYS W. S. MOGK.

ELECTRIC RAT TRAP.

' APPLICATION FILED APR.16, 1912. I 1,45,58%@ Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

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Specification of letters itatent.

Application filed ligiril 1d, 1912. serisi lac. $33,268.

rodents that enter. the-trap, and to provide is a trap that can he safely used in large buildings Without any danger of cats, dogs or persons being injured by the trap.

Further objects of nay-invention are provide a trap that can be used in connec- 20 tionwith an ordinai electric lighting" systemor with a speciai source otlelectrical energy located Within the trap, and .to provide a trap of the above type that is inexpensiveto maintain, durable and highly efficient for '25 the purposes for which it is intended.

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in thenovel construe tion, combination and arrangement of parts toloe hereinafter specifically described and 30 {rt-hen claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings wherein like numerals denote correspond" ing parts throughout the several views, in Which:-

Figure 1 is a plan of the trap with the cage thereof Vnioved, Fig. Q is a diagrammatic View tie electrical connections for the trap, Fig 3 is abottono plan of the trap, Fig. 4 is a cross 40 and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of one of the tiltahle platforms of the trap.

An electric rat trap in accordance with this invention comprises diagonally disposed cross bars 1, said bars being-cut away intermediate the ends thereof, as at 2 whereby the bars can he fitted together to remain in a common olauc. The bars are adapted to be supported upon the honor edges of a tank 3 59 other receptacle, said receptacle being to collect the. bodies 01 electrocuted Q v I :o ents.,, I

The bars 1 support a iectailgular base a 9 ed uponsaid base plate is the reins; 5 having sectional view of the trap;

upper end thereof open and the walls oi said housing braced-by corner posts 6. The housing 5 constitutes a compartment for batteries 7 and induction coils 8. said batteries being arranged in series. The batteries 7 and induction coils 8 represent a suitable source of electrical energy that can he used Where buildings or Wharves are not equippcd with an electric lighting system.

The outer sides of the rectangular housing 5 are provided with metallic contact plates 9 arranged intermediate the upper and lo W61 .13 .13 edges 0i toe walls or the housing. The contact plates 9 have the ends thereof contacting at the ends of the Walls of the housing and one of the contact plates 9 is provided with Walls of the housing, said binding post being connectedto the induction coils 3, as will hereinafter appear.

The base plate a is provided with a series of oblong openings 11 and in these openings arranged trap doors 12, said doors be The doors are supported normally in a horizontal or closed position by the endsl i oi coiled springs 15 secured, as at 16 to the under side of the base "plate 4, adjacent to the openings 11. The trap doors 12 are adjacent to thawalls oi? the housing 5 and correspond in number to the Walls oi said. .lEOUSiIlg.

'lhat portion of the base plate 4, between the outer edge thereof and the hinged edges of the trap doors IQ-is provided with tiltahle metallic platforms 17. The platforms 1? are formed with depressed portions 18 providing;- sockets for bearings 19 carried by the base plate 4. Th0. hearings l9 tiltably support the platforms 1?. and the outer edges of said platforms are provided with depending portions 20 that extend downwardly over the outer edges of the base plate The 'tiltable metallic plat-forms provided with dopcwling tubular posts 21. preforabl made of an insulating materiai, as fiber or rubber. The posts 21 eXtend through openingsflfd provided therefor in th s base plate t and the lower ends of the posts provided with oppositely disposed it shaped notches 2'?) providing clear-- ance for a Wire that is secured to the under side of the hose plate -12. t

n w 1- i-Jneenoing adaptcdio contact with the wirefiei are a binding post 10 that extends through the ing' hinged, as at 13 to swing downwardly.

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through l'llt'lOlfQi ends of the post: 21 i branch wires 25, carried by a main wire 26 suitably secured'to the under side of the base plate 4. The branch wires 25 serve as springs for maintaining the tiltable platforms 17 ina normally horizontal position, yet permitting of the platforms to "tilt by the weight of a rodents body, to place the 17 are provided with posts 33 and connected 'to said posts are the branch wires 34 of a main wire 35 that is carried by the bottom side of the base plate 4, said wire extending through the bars 1, similar to the wires 24 and 26. The wire 35 is connected by branches 36 and 37 to the binding post 38 of the induction coils 8. v

The other electrical connections are as follows; the contact plates 9 are connected by wires 39 and 40 to the binding post 41 of the induction coils 8. The induction coils are connected by wires 42 to the contact 29 v of the switch 30. The batteries are in series and are connected by a wire 44 to the contact 45 of the switch 31 and by a wire 46 to the binding post 47 of one of the induction coils. 1

The contact 48 of the switch 30 is connected by a' wire 49 to the binding post 50 of the other induction coil. The wire 49 is connected by a wire 51 to the post 52 of the other induction coil and the wire 46 is connected by a wire 53 to the post 54 of the other induction coil.

The binding posts 47 and 54 are connected by wires 57 and 58 to the positive side 59 of a mainline and the negative. side 60 of said line is connected by a wire 61 to the contact 31.

llfithout describing the various circuits, it is thought that the operation of the trap will be understood from the following When the double throw switch 30 is thrown to the contacts 45 and 48, the batteries can be utilized for electrocuting a rodent, and when the switch is thrown to the contacts 29 and 31, the main lines 59 and 60 can be used.

"When a rodent treads upon one of the tiltable platforms 17 the wires 24 and 26 are connected, immediately placing the batteries 7 in circuit with the induction coils 8 charging the plates 9 as well as the housing 5, and upon a rodent placing the fore feet against the contact plate 9, the rodents g energy body receives the full charge of electricity and drops through one of the trap doors 12 into the tank 3. By using the induction coils or transformers, the'ordinary electric lighting circuit of 110 volts can be raised to 800 volts or more, thereby insuring electrocution of the animal body that receives .such voltage.

Supported upon the upper edges of the contact 9 by the hooks 62 are holders 62 for suitable bait employed for enticing a rodent into the trap. The bait holders are of metal that will be charged with electrictity when the circuit is formed.

To prevent cats, dogs and even persons from being injured'by the trap, a rectangular cage 63 is supported by the base plate 4, said cage being mounted upon legs 64 to provide sufficient clearance for a rodents body in passing into the trap. The cage is made of a frame work covered with interwoven wire, and at the lower edges of said cage are yleldable prongs 65 that can be,

raised by a rodents body entering the trap, said prongs preventing the escaping of a rodent after having passed onto the trap doors 12.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have devised a trap that can be used- *in connection witha suitable source of electrical energy, said trap including means for maintaining a primary open circuit adapted to be closed to establish a secondary open circuit that is completed or closed by a rodents body within the trap. Provision is also made for collecting the bodies'in a suitable receptacle whereby the bodies will not interfere with the operation of the trap,

or alarm other rodents to that extent that they would not enter the trap. The cage 63- is so positioned with respect to the platform 17 that the rodent will naturally make an effort to grab the bait before it passes upon the trap door 12, in case that the rodent does not spring for the bait and engage the contact plate 9, but passes directly upon the trap door 12, the rodent will be precipitated into the receptacle 3. The latter containing water and under such circumstances the rodent will be drowned.

What I claim is 1. In air electric rat trap, the combination with a suitable source of electrical en ergy, of a base plate, a housing carried there by, induction coils arranged within said housing and in circuit with said source of electrical energy, tiltable platforms ar ranged upon said base plate and normally maintaining an open primary circuit in connection with said source of electrical energy, means :n'tuatcd by a tilting movemen of said platforms to close said primary cuit and establish an open sevondary circuit in connection with said sour e of electrical tllltl said induction coils, tontact plate-s carried by the walls of said hcnsing I with a suitahiesource of electrical energy,

and in circuit with one side of said open secondary circuit, 831d plat-forms being connected to the other side of the secondarycircuit, a receptacle supporting. said base plate, and normally closed trap doors carried by said base plate above said receptacle.

2. In an electric rat trap, the combination forms to close said primary circuit and 615- tebiish an open secondary circuit in connection with said source of electrical energy and stud induction coiis, contact plates carried by the walis of said housing and in ciredit with one side of said open secondary circuit, sold platforms being connected to the other side of the secondary circuit, areceptacle supporting said base plate, nor

base plate above said receptacle, bait holders supported upon the upper edges of said contact plates, and a foraminous cage arranged over said housing and supported by "said base plate, said cage spaced from said platforms to ailow the entrance of a rodent to the trap.

In testimony ivhereof I aiiixmy signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.

VVINEIELD S. MGCK.

Witnesses:

ROBERT A. ROBINSON, MAX H. Szzonovrrz.

.maily closed trap doors carried by said-- tiopies of this petent'may be obtained for five centscach, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, I). U. 

